Ticket pinning tool



Nov. 17, 1959' Filed April 16, 1958 I5 en C. L. WESTBROOK TICKET PINNING TOOL FlG.lO

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|I

INVENTOR.

Charle's L.Westbr;ook BYJ 2 V? Nov. 17, 1959 Filed April 16, 1958 FIG.2

c. L. WESTBRQOK TICKET PINNING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTYJ I I TICKET PINNING TOOL Charles L. WestbrooKAyden, N.C. Application April 16, 1958, Serial No. 729,014

' 17 Claims. c1. 1-12o and more particularly to a ticket pinning tool of the type wherein individual tickets are cut from a strip of tickets and stapled to merchandise or the like;

It is often desirable to pin or staple price tags and the like to merchandise through which staples may be driven. This may, of course, be accomplished by stapling or pin ning individual tickets to the merchandise, but such procedure is excessively time consuming. Accordingly, ticket pinning tools have been developed wherein an elongated strip of tickets is advanced in step-by-step sequence and individual tickets are cut off from this strip and stapled to the merchandise. In this manner, such pinning operations may be carried out in a rapid and expeditious manner.

The ticket pinning tool of the present invention is especially adapted for use with a novel elongated ticket strip. This ticket strip has a plurality of notches formed in one side edge thereof, the notches extending normally and inwardly of the side edge a distance greater than onehalf the width of the strip. The ticket pinning tool is provided with an advancing means including an arm having a lower tip portion which projects into the notches and advances the ticket strip forwardly within the body means. A pair of cutting members is provided which cooperate with one another to sever the remaining width of the strip between the inner ends of the notches and the opposite side edge of the strip.

When utilizing a ticket strip according to the present invention, it is necessary that the ticket strip be accurately sequentially advanced and cut at substantially the same position relative to the slot during each cutting operation such that the strip will be cut at the proper location so as to completely sever the individual tickets or tags from the strip. It is also desirable to provide a tool wherein the ticket strip and staples may be quickly and easily loaded therein.

The novel structure of the present invention includes a body means having a first handle portion formed at the rear end thereof and a second handle portion pivotally connected adjacent the forward end thereof. A stapling means is pivotally connected to the body means and is urged upwardly upon pivotal movement of the handle portions toward one another. Resilient means normally urges the ticket advancing means forwardly such that the ticket strip will be carried in a forward direction. Upon stapling and cutting movement of the tool, the ticket advancing means will be urged rearwardly such that upon completion of the cutting and pinning operation, and return of the elements of the tool to the position in preparedness for a subsequent operation, the ticket strip will again be advanced forwardly to position another ticket in proper relationship for subsequent pinning to merchandise or the like- 7 Two novel cooperating cutting members are provided for severing the tickets from the ticket strip, and are normally resiliently urged into engagement with one another to insure proper cutting action. Means is sup- United States PatentO The present invention relates to a ticket pinning tool,

35 Fig. 8 is a view partly in section,

line 88 of Fig. 1,

1912,59? Patented Nov. 17, 1959 ice ported by the body means for holding down the ticket strip and insuring its following a predetermined path within the body means, and an additional limit stop means is provided for limiting the pivotal movement of 5 the stapling means with respect to the body means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel ticket pinning tool which may be quickly and easily loaded with staples and a ticket strip, and which maybe operated in a simple and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a ticket pinning tool which provides a substanltially uniform advancing movement of the associated ticket strip, and which severs the individual tickets from the ticket strip in a positive and accurate manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ticket pinning tool which is simple and inexpensive,

' yet eflicient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the accompanying specification and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a ticket pinning tool according to the present invention,

- Fig. 2 is a top view of the tool shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on lines 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on line 5--5 of Fig.

1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the ticket. "advancing means of the device,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the second handle means of the device,

taken along the Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus, and

Fig. 11 is a view of an individual ticket pinned to a piece of merchandise.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a body means indicated generally by reference numeral 10 includes a bottom wall 11, and integral, side walls 12 and 13, and an integral end wall 7 14. Side walls 12 and 13 have downwardly slopping shoulders 15 and 16, and include a lower portion 17 ex tending to the rear end of the body means. A suitable shaped handle portion 18 is secured to the rear end portion of the body means as by press fit, and it is so configured as to conform tothe shape of an operators hand.

The handle portion 18 has the bottom surface 19 thereof spaced from the upper surface 20 of the lower wall of the body means, thereby providing a slot through which the ticket strip 21, according to the present invention, projects. As seen most clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, ticket strip 21 includes a plurality of equally spaced slots 22 disposed along the entire length thereof, slots 22 extending inwardly and normally of one side edge thereof a distance greater than one-half the width of the strip. The remaining width of the strip between the end of the slots and the opposite side edge of the strip is adapted to be severed by the tool along phantom lines 23 5 as shown in Fig. 2.

7 surface of member 31. During the backward movement of the ticket advancing means, the tip 52 of arm 41 is moved backwardly more than the width of two tickets 21,

and moves over two slots 22 of the ticket strip. The second or rearmost slot is always disposed under bridge member 31, and consequently tip 52 will only engage the first notch on its forward or return movement. The purpose of the ticket advancing means moving backwardly more than the width of two tickets is to delay the time before the ticket strip begins its forward movement, so that the merchandise or the like can be removed from the tool before the ticket strip begins its forward movement. Springs 33 are mounted upon studs 34 secured to the opposite side walls of the body means and have one end portion thereof extending through suitable openings 35 provided in the side walls. The opposite end portions 36 of the springs engage the top surface of the ticket strip to maintain the ticket strip in proper operative position.

A ticket advancing means includes two arms 40 and 41 pivotally connected to one another as seen most clearly in Fig. 6 and having a spring 42 disposed about a shaft 43, the opposite ends of the spring engaging the two arms for normally pivoting them away from one another as seen in Fig. 3. The upper enlarged end 45 of the member 40 is connected by a screw 46 to transverse shaft 47 journalled in the opposite side walls 12 and 13 of the body means. Shaft 47 is provided with a gear 48 at one end thereof, and a nut 4-9 is threaded proper operative position. The lower forward end of the arm 41 is provided with an auxiliary member 50 having an upturned flange 51 which cooperates with the end 52 of arm to provide a tip portion which projects into strip forwardly within the body means.

Gear 48 fixed to the end of shaft 47 is in meshing engagement with the gear teeth 55 formed on a segment 56. The lower portion of segment 56 is secured by means of bolts 57 to a member 58 of stapling means indicated generally by reference numeral 59. The stapling means is pivotally connected about a shaft 60 which is journalled in brackets 61 secured to opposite side portions of the body means. As seen most clearly in Fig. 2, a tension spring 65 has the upper end thereof connected to an offset ear portion 66 of segment 56, and the lower end thereof extends through opening 53 provided in side wall 12. It is evident that spring 65 normally urges segment 56 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of shaft 6%) as seen in Fig. 1, whereby gear 48 will be rotated in such a direction as to urge the ticket advancing means in a direction toward the forward end of the body means. An adjusting screw 66 is threaded through a suitable opening in ear portion 66, and the inner end of the screw engages the adjacent shoulder 15 as seen most clearly in Fig. l for adjusting the normal position of the ticket advancing means and the stapling means with respect to the body means.

A compression spring 67 is seated between the upper surface 68 of the stapling means and the lower surface of body Wall 11, and normally urges the stapling means pivotally away from the body means. A downwardly extending limit stop means 69 is secured to side wall 13 or the body means and has a laterally inwardly extending flange 79 formed integral therewith which extends into aligned cut-out slots 71 formed in the adjacent side walls of stapling members 58 and 72. The purpose of limit stop member 69 is to limit the pivotal movement of the stapling means away from the body means. As seen most :learlym Fig. 9, the internal mechanism of the stapling magazine 75 defining a substantially U-shaped :avity therein as seen most clearly in Fig. 4, which is .dapted to support a plurality of staples therein in a con- 'entional manner. A slidable staple pusher 76 is also upported by the magazine 75 and the forward end poron 77 thereof is adapted to engage the outermost staple )r urging the staples forwardly against the stop means 8. Staple pusher 76 has a lug 80 extending normally therefrom, and a rod 81 extends through a suitable opening provided in lug 80. The rear end of rod 81 is bent at right angles to form a portion 82 which is bent back to form portions 33 and 84, portion 84 extending through an opening 85 provided in member 58 for locking rod 81 in operative position. A shoulder 86 is provided on rod 81, and a compression spring 87 is disposed between shoulder 86 and lug 80. It is apparent that when rod 81 is in the locked position as shown with portion 84 disposed in opening 85, spring 37 urges staple pusher 76 toward stop member 7%, thereby assuring that all the staples will be urged against the stop member.

A conventional leaf spring member 90 is connected to the lower surface of member 58 of the stapling means by a rivet 91 or the like, and one end portion 92 thereof is disposed in engagement with the upper surface of magazine 75. The opposite end portion 93 of the leaf spring has a staple driver portion 94 which is adapted to be projected between stop member 78 and the end of magazine 75 for engaging the outermost staple in the group of staples indicated generally by reference numeral 95 in Fig. 9. The stapling means may be loaded from the right hand end portion thereof as seen in Fig. 9, by moving rod 81 and staple pusher 76 from the mechanism, and inserting a plurality of staples within magazine 75.

A second-handle portion indicated generally by reference niuneral Ht includes a main body portion 111 having an integrally formed handle 112 at the rear end thereof for receiving the hand of an operator. Upwardly extending walls 113 and 114 are provided at opposite sides of the handle portion, and the forwardly extending portions of side walls 113 and 114 are pivot ally connected to the body means by a shaft 115. A 116 is freely rotatably mounted on a the stapling means upwardly when the two handle portions are pivoted toward one another. The lower end of compression spring is secured to the main body portion 111 of the second handle portion for normally pivoting the second handle portion away from the first handle portion.

end portions thereof journalled in the side walls 12 and 13 of the body means. The lower edge 122 of the first cutting member provides a sharp cutting edge, and a cutting member for receiving and providing a clearance with arm 41 of the ticket advancing means. A spring 125 has one end 126 thereof secured to the end wall of the body means, and the opposite end 127 thereof is secured through openings 128 provided in cutting member 120. Spring 3125 normally pivots cutting member 120 counterclockwise about shaft 121 as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Cutting member 120 is provided with a laterally offset ear portion 130 which extends through an opening 131 provided in the side wall 12 of the body means. A second cutting member indicated generally by reference numeral 135 comprises two side members 136 and 137 having a cross member 138 connected between the upper ends thereof and a cross member 139 connected between portions adjacent the lower ends thereof. It is accordingly seen that cutting member 135 comprises a substantially rectangular frame. Theupper edge, 1140 pros vides a sharp cutting edge, and is adapted to cooperate with the cutting edge 122 of cutting member 120 for severing the ticket strip. Ear portion 130 of cutting member 120 is normally urged into engagement with side member 136 of second cutting member 135 as seen in Figs. 3 and 5. In this manner, the cutting edges of the two cutting members will be maintained in proper relationship to one another at all times.

A tension spring 145 has the upper end 146 thereof connected to cross member 138 of cutting member 135, and the lower end portion 147 thereof is connected to a connector member 148. Tension spring 145 normally urges cutting member 135 downwardly such that the lower surface of cross member 138 is in engagement with the upper edge of side members 12 and 13.

walls 12 and 13 of the body means, and a substantially channel-shaped member 161 is disposed about the forward end of the body means and secured thereto by bolt assembly 152. The rear edges of the legs 162 and 163 of channel member 161 engage side members 136 and 137, and lugs 160 formed on side walls 12 and 13 also engage the opposite surface of side members 136 and 137 of the second cutting member, thereby guiding sliding movement of the second cutting member during operation of the apparatus.

As seen most clearly in Fig. 3, member 72 of the stapling means is provided with a slot 165 adapted to receive cross member 139 of the second cutting member, and the upper edge 166 of member 58 of the stapling means is adapted to engage the lower portions 167 of the second cutting member as seen in Fig. 5 for urging the second cutting member upwardly and into cutting relationship with the first cutting member during operation.

A ticket strip 21 according to the present invention is inserted within a slot defined in the first handle portion and extends forwardly under the anvil member, since the forward end of the side walls are cut out and the forward portion of bottom Wall 11 of the body means is cut away to permit the ticket strip to extend downwardly under the anvil as seen most clearly in Fig. 3. The handle portions are pivoted toward one another by an operator, and roller 116 engages cam surface 102 of the stapling means for urging the stapling means in an upward direction. The upper surface 166 of stapling member 58 engages the lower portions 167 of the second cutting member and urges the second cutting member upwardly into cutting relationship with the first cutting member 120. The individual tickets are accordingly severed from the ticket strip and the staple is simultaneously passed through the severed ticked and bent over' by grooves 156. It is evident that the merchandise must be inserted between the stapling means and the body means prior to operation, whereupon the severed ticket 170 will be secured to the merchandise 171 such as cloth or the like as illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings wherein the individual ticket has been severed from the ticket strip.

During upward movement of the stapling means, the ticket advancing means is urged backwardly and the tip end of arm 41 engages the next succeeding notch of the ticket strip. Upon release of the handle members and return to their positions as shown in Fig. 1, the ticket advancing means is urged forwardly thereby advancing the ticket strip into position for a subsequent pinning and severing operation. I

.It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided a new and novel ticket pinning tool which may be quickly and easily loaded with a ticket strip and staples, and may be operated in a simple and expeditious manner. The tool provides accurate advancing of the ticket strip and also positively and accurately cuts the individual tickets from the strip. The tool is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet is efiicient and reliable in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodimentis therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims. p

I claim:

1. A ticket pinning tool which comprises a body means including means for supporting a strip of tickets thereon, a first handle portion secured to said body means, a second handle portionpivotally connected to said body means, stapling means pivotally connected to said body means, cooperating engageable means on said second handle portion and said stapling means for moving said stapling means into cooperative relationship with said body means upon pivotal movement of said second handle portion toward said first handle portion, means normally urging said stapling means away from said body means, cutting means supported by said body means and actuated upon pivotal movement of said stapling means to cut the ticket strip, ticket advancing means supported by said body means, means normally urging said ticket advancing means in the direction of advancing movement of the ticket means, said ticket advancing means being actuated upon pivotal movement of said stapling means in a direction opposite to that of said first mentioned direction.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including resilient means normally urging said second handle portion pivotally away from said body means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperating engageable means on said second handle'portion and said stapling means includes a roller member mounted for free rotation, and a cam member on said stapling means including a cam surface engageable with said roller member.

4. A ticket pinning tool which comprises a body means including means ,for supporting a slotted ticket strip thereon, a first handle portion secured to said body means, a second handle portion pivotally connected to said body means, stapling means pivotally connected to said body means, cooperating engageable means on said second handle portion and said stapling means for moving said stapling means into cooperative relationship with a portion of said body means upon pivotal movement of said second handle portion toward said first handle por-.

tion, means normally urging said stapling means pivotally away from said body means, means normally urging said second handle portion pivotally away from said stapling means, a first cutting member pivotally supported by said body means, a second cooperating cutting member slidably supported by said body means and actuated upon pivotal movement of said stapling means to cooperate with said first cutting member and cut said ticket strip, means pivotally supported by said body means for advancing said ticket strip, resilient means normally urging said ticket advancing means toward one end of said body means, said ticket advancing means being actuated upon pivotal movement of said stapling means toward said first handle portion in a direction toward the opposite end of said body means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including resilient a portion of said first cutting member is normally dis posed in engagement with said second cutting member.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim wherein the por tion of said first cutting member in engagement with said second cutting member comprises an offset ear portion, an opening formed in said body means, and said ear portion extending through said opening in the body means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a cut-out portion formed in the lower edge of said first cutting member for receiving and providing a clearance between said first cutting member and a portion of said ticket advancing means.

8. A ticket pinning tool comprising an elongated body means including means receiving an elongated slotted ticket strip, said elongated body means having a first handle portion, a second handle portion pivotally connected to said body means, stapling means pivotally connected to said body means, cooperating engageable means on said second handle portion and said stapling means for moving said stapling means toward said body means upon pivotal movement of said second handle portion toward said first handle portion, means normally urging Said stapling means away from said body means, a first cutting means pivotally supported by said body means, a second cutting member slidably supported by said body means, ticket advancing means pivotally supported by said body means, resilient means normally urging said ticket advancing means toward one end of said body means in the direction of advancing movement of the ticket means, said ticket means being connected to said stapling means and being actuated upon pivotal movement of said stapling means toward said first handle portion to move said ticket advancing means toward the opposite end of said body means, said stapling means including a portion engageable with the lower end portion of said second cutting member for urging said second cutting member into cutting relationship with said first cutting member to thereby sever the ticket strip upon pivotal movement of said handle portions toward one another.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 including means for limiting the pivotal movement of said stapling means away from said body means.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said ticket advancing means includes two members pivotally connected to one another, spring means normally pivoting said members away from one another, and one of said two members including a lower tip portion adapted to be projected into the slots in the slotted ticket strip.

11. A ticket pinning tool comprising an elongated body means having a first handle portion at the rear end portion thereof, a second handle portion pivoted to the forward end portion of said body means, a first cutting member pivotally supported by said body means, a second cutting member slidably supported by said body means, resilient means urging one of said cutting members into engagement with the other of said cutting members, stapling means pivotally connected to said body means, said stapling means and said second handle portion having a cooperating roller and cam member including a cam surface for engaging said roller whereby said stapling means is urged pivotally toward said body means upon pivotal movement of said handle portions toward one another, resilient means normally urging said stapling means away from said body means, resilient means normally urging said second handle portion pivotally away from said sta pling means, ticket advancing means pivotally supported by said body means and operatively connected to said stapling means, said stapling means including a portion for engaging the lower end portion of said second cutting member for urging said second cutting member toward said first cutting member,

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including resilient hold down means supported by said body means and 8 adapted to engage the upper surface of the slotted ticket strip supported by said body means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said first cutting member is pivoted about a transverse axis of said body means, and said second cutting member is slidable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body means, said body means having an opening formed therein, said first cutting member including a transversely extending ear portion projecting through said opening in said body means and being in engagement with a portion'of said second cutting member.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said body means includes guide means for guiding the sliding movement of said second cutting member.

15. A ticket pinning tool which comprises a body means having a first handle portion formed at the rear end portion thereof, said first handle portion including a slot therein for receiving an elongated slotted ticket strip, a second handle portion pivotally connected to said body means at the forward end portion thereof, a first cutting member pivotally suported on said body means about a transverse axis thereof, a second cutting means slidably supported by said body means for movement in a plane substantially parallel with said aforementioned axis, resilient means normally urging a portion of said first cutting member into engagement with a portion of said second cutting member, a stapling means pivotally connected to a portion of said body means, said second handle portion and said stapling means having cooperating engageable means for moving said stapling means toward said body means upon pivotal movement of said second handle portion toward said first handle portion, resilient means for normally urging said stapling means pivotally away from said body means, ticket advancing means pivotally connected to said body means and including two pivotally connected arms, spring means normally pivoting said arms away from one another, one of said arms having a tip portion adapted to project into the slots in said ticket strip, said first cutting member including a cut-out portion in the lower edge thereof for receiving and providing a clearance between said one arm and said first cutting member, and means for urging said second cutting member into cutting relationship with said first cutting member upon pivotal movement of said stapling means toward said first handle portion.

16. A ticket pinning tool which comprises an elongated body means having upstanding spaced side walls, a first handle portion disposed at one end portion of said body means and having a slot thereon for receiving an elongated slotted ticket strip, said body means including an anvil portion, a stapling means pivotally connected to said body means and having a cam member secured to the undersurface thereof, said cam member having a cam surface formed thereon, spring means normally urging said stapling means pivotally away from said body means, means for limiting the movement of said stapling means away from said body means, a second handle portion pivotally connected to the forward end portion of said body means, said second handle portion having a roller member mounted thereon for rotation with respect thereto, said roller being adapted to engage the cam surface of said cam member, a first cutting member pivotally supported upon a transverse shaft journalled in said side walls, said first cutting member including a transversely extending end portion, an opening formed in one of said side walls, said ear portion extending through said opening, a second cutting member slidably supported by said body means for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body means, guide means on said body means for guiding the sliding movement of said second cutting member, spring means normally urging said second cutting member toward said stapling means, spring means normally urging the ear portion of said first cutting member into engagement with a portion of said second cutting member, ticket advancing means including a first arm connected to a transversely extending shaft journalled in said side walls, a second arm pivotally connected to said first arm and having a lower tip portion adapted to project into the slots in said ticket strip, said first cutting member having a cutout portion in the lower edge thereof for receiving and providing a clearance with said second arm, said ticket advancing means being connected to said stapling means for conjoint movement therewith, and resilient means normally urging said advancing means toward the forward end of said body means, said stapling means being pivoted toward said body means and said ticket advancing means being actuated toward the rear end portion of said body means upon pivotal movement of said second handle portion toward said first handle portion.

17. A ticket pinning tool which comprises a body means including a means for supporting a strip of tickets thereon, stapling means pivotally connected to said body means, means for moving said stapling means into cooperative relationship with said body means, means normaily urging said stapling means in one direction of rotation about its pivot axis, cutting means supported by said body means and actuated upon pivotal movement of said stapling means in the opposite direction about its pivot axis to cut the ticket strip, ticket advancing means supported by said body means, means normally urging said ticket advancing means in one direction, said ticket advancing means being actuated upon pivotal movement of said stapling means in said opposite direction.

No references cited. 

